Little Falls transcript., 1887-03-04

INO pick Hdh AudlH,'l DefleE6,
The only woman then was Eve;
But he no doubt deemed her prize
He tool, her and lost Paradise
F. L. sQui'es, in Norristo,cm He,ald.
THE MAJORS STORY.
The Miraculous Shot by Which n British
Officer Saved His ColonePs Fife.
"By the living jmge," cried the Major,
stretching out his legs a little farther un-
der tho mess table, and bringing down his
Aand upon it with such force that the
glasses rang again." by the living iingo!
IuonFt believe there's a man in the regi-
hdent, or in the whole British army either,
that's had as many, aye, or half as many,
narrow squeaks for his life as have"
General attention was Immediately con-
centrated on the Major, for the above
speech was familiar TO sall present. When
it burst from the Majors lips we all knew
that his wonderful memory had recalled to
him some heirbreadth escape, some daring
exploit Of which he was the hero; or,
which was Just as good, that his equally
wonderful imagination had conjured up
some such picture, still having himself for
the center figure.
And when the Majors memory Or inag-
ination supplied him with an anecdote, he
was always generously eager to impart it
to MS friends and brother officers. Indeed,
we had heard most of his stories three
times at the very lowest rate of computa-
tlon, but then they were retOld with such
/ humorous variations and additions that
sthey never fell fat onsour ears.
It was just like listening to some Welt
known tune played with variations"
where you are hardlyable to pick out the
original air from the multitude of trills
and turns and quavers in which it is
shroudsd. So with the Majors stories
Sometimes, hearing one for the second
time, we hardly recognized it as an old
friend until the grand denouement was
reached, all the details having altered so
marvelously since the first time Of re-
cital
But let the Major tell the story that is
evidently trembling on the tip of his
tongue, in his own way and without fur
ther interruption or explanation.
''And what's more, besides having got
safely out of some very pretty scrapes my
self, as you all know''-here there was a
loud chorus Of asserting voices, and a fer
vently uttered True for you, Major and
the saints be praised for that same9' from
young Irish sabaltern, lately Joined. to
whom the Majors stories still wore the
meagerly-vailcd sltepticisn caused that
eloquent raconteur to view him with some
suspicion 81 dare say you also o'know,' he
continued, THAT I've helped to get other
men out Of them, too. But don't know
that ! ever saw any man--except myself,
OF cOurSe-nearer being swallowed by the
jaws Of death than our Colonel was one
day out in India. For some time past we
had had no regular fighting, and were in
hopes that we might be able to negotiate
peace without further bloedshed. But
meanwhile there was kind Of petty ;guer-
rilla warfare going on, The cowardly ours
| of natives never showed themselves open
! ly, but would hide in the woods by which
our camp was pretty well surrounded.'
"a Alright spot for a picnic party, but a
| quare situation for a Campo murnured
| the subaltern, who was promptly adjured
to "Dry up, and let the Major speak!"
| "Concealed in this covert, they would
pick off one man here and another there
from immense distances; for, you know
they had got possession of a lot of old
;rtles and when once they found out how
to use them, they were b. gars to shoot
And the most aggravating part Of it was
that though they ran fast enough whe1
discovered, yet if you did get hold of them
ito mind being killed in tn. least As sure
as Pm living man, they seemed, like the
cells, rather to enjoy it. I suppose they
knew there were plenty more to follow
but, 'pon my honor, it's astonishing how
cheap those fellows seemed to hold human
life.
''Well, as was going to say, our Colone
was as brave q man as ever breathed tn
breath OF life, but he was rash, terribl,
| rash and one day he was strOIling abou
between the camp and the wood when
happened to catch sight of him. The yer,
place where poor Willis was bewled owe
last week. said to myself rlljust keel
an eye on the Colonel, and see that h
comes to no harm.
$50 strolled out after him, and 'then
remembered that after Willis was shot b,
some scamp lurking among the trees, w
had posted sentries at short distance
along the outer edge of the wood. w
called it a wood, but it was really onl.
"a long, narrow belt of trees skirt;ng tn
camp. However, I thought might as wei
walk round1to where the sentries were o.
duty, aud make sure that all was right
But when l got'to the place where coul
have sworn the first Of them ought to hav
been standing, there was no sentry there
80 went on to the second post, but it wa
deserted, too, and so was the third an
the fourth! In fact, there was not a ma
'Out Of the half dozen to be found.
''Of course, knew at once that ther
was some treacheryton foot, and resolved t
) hurry back to the camp to give the alarm
So OIL started in hot haste. Itook shor
cut through the wood in the direction Of tn
camp, but hadn't got more than half wa
across when thick clump OF brushwoo
aroused my suspicious as very likel
place for,an enemy to be skulking in. St
keeping my revolver in readiness, wen
| up to it. resolved to unearth any Of tn
tricky scoundrels who might have chose
, it as snug little spot in which to lie lerd,
. plunged in boldly, but keeping a shar
!. ; lookout.
''When got into the middle, there was,
small open space, and in it lay-you ma
Judge of my horror when came suddenl
upon them-the bodies of six murdere
. men, huddled one upon the top Of the Other
| Soldier though was, and L don't think a
!. ii:over-cowardly one, felt inclined to tur
and fly from the horrible sight. You ma
hardly credit it, but the bare recollectio
of it makes my tongue feel as il it wei
glued to the roof Of my mouth" .rgs {. II
3. A remedy for this unpleasant sensatic
r was instantly provided by&8 sympathet
Y sudience, and . short pause ensued in Il
!. uarra'ive '@:5 : T. ~ 4 SIS SIS
e stWhen you're ready, Major" quietly r
marked the subaltern. The Major pl
{ down his glass with sigh, and continued
al ssWell, asI was saying before, it was x
{ horrible and ghastly to feel myself alon
+ :shns in by the dense underwood-alcI
a~fsth tlnse six lHeaess corpses. Vita Z